Consultant for Transition from Handpumps to Solar Powered Water Systems

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a global leader in advocating for children's rights and welfare. The organization operates in over 190 countries and territories, focusing on saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential. UNICEF is committed to promoting equity and inclusion, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations are not left behind. The organization employs a diverse workforce dedicated to professional and personal development, fostering a culture of belonging and growth. UNICEF's mission is to ensure every child has access to essential services, including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

Job Overview:
The consultant will design and implement a data collection framework for rural water supply sites transitioning from handpumps to solar-powered systems across 4-6 districts in Malawi. This role involves conducting field visits to gather detailed technical and financial data, assessing the performance of existing handpump systems, and evaluating the feasibility of solar-powered systems. The consultant will engage with stakeholders to validate data and analyze the social, gender, and child-protection implications of the transition. The ultimate goal is to develop evidence-based recommendations and practical guidance for districts and partners to support informed decision-making on technology choices and management models.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design and implement a comprehensive data collection framework for rural water supply sites transitioning from handpumps to solar-powered systems.
• Conduct field visits to selected sites to gather detailed technical data, including system specifications, installation quality, operational status, and hydrogeological context.
• Collect financial data such as capital costs, operation and maintenance expenses, tariff structures, funding sources, and management models.
• Assess the current performance and limitations of existing rural hand-pump water supply systems, focusing on functionality rates, reliability, water yield, user satisfaction, and maintenance arrangements.
• Evaluate the technical, financial, operational, and environmental feasibility of transitioning to solar-powered water supply systems, considering water demand, life cycle costs, hydrogeological conditions, and system design requirements.
• Engage with stakeholders, including district water offices, service providers, and community representatives, to validate data and capture user perspectives on system performance and financial sustainability.
• Analyze the social, gender, and child-protection implications of each system type, focusing on impacts on water access, time burden, safety, and service inclusion for vulnerable populations.
• Develop a comprehensive database of all collected technical, financial, environmental, and social information, ensuring data quality and consistency for subsequent economic analysis.
• Analyze the database to identify trends, cost benchmarks, and factors influencing the success or failure of solar transitions, including comparative analysis with handpump systems. 1
• Document best practices, risks, and lessons learned from similar transitions within the country and in comparable contexts globally. 1
• Prepare evidence-based recommendations and practical guidance for districts and partners, supporting informed decision-making on technology choices and management models. 1
• Review national guidelines and policies on solar-powered systems and management models, including water tariffs.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Water Resources, Engineering, Public Health, or a related field is required.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in rural water supply, preferably in Africa.
• Experience in policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and economic analyses is required.
• Proven experience in field research, including data collection, analysis, and database management.
• Demonstrated expertise in solar water systems and handpump technologies is required.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills are required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in Water Resources, Engineering, Public Health, or a related field. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively carry out the responsibilities of the position.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in rural water supply, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked in Africa. This experience should include policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and economic analyses, as well as field research involving data collection and database management.

Languages:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but English is the primary language of communication within UNICEF and for this consultancy.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy role is expected to be full-time and may involve travel to various rural districts in Malawi. The consultant will be required to submit a curriculum vitae, a brief technical proposal, and a financial proposal detailing all-inclusive fees. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, or background. The organization offers a range of benefits, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and adherence to UNICEF's core values and standards is mandatory.